diff --git a/pkgs/tools/graphics/argyllcms/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/graphics/argyllcms/default.nix
index 160b77229b3c..1326d0454591 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/graphics/argyllcms/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/graphics/argyllcms/default.nix
@@ -94,9 +94,11 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     libXrender libXScrnSaver libXdmcp libXau openssl
   ];
 
-  buildFlags = "PREFIX=$(out) all";
+  buildFlags = [ "all" ];
 
-  installFlags = "PREFIX=$(out)";
+  makeFlags = [
+    "PREFIX=${placeholder ''out''}"
+  ];
 
   # Install udev rules, but remove lines that set up the udev-acl
   # stuff, since that is handled by udev's own rules (70-udev-acl.rules)